Baltimore police used dogs, horses and a helicopter yesterday to chase a car containing gunmen who earlier had barged into a rowhouse and pointed .38-caliber revolvers at the heads of two men.

Police were called to the rowhouse in the 1700 block of St. Paul St.about 10:10 a.m. to investigate a report that an armed person was there. Officers entered the house and discovered three men holding guns -- who had forced their two intended victims to lie on the floor with pillows over their heads, police said.

The gunmen, whose faces were hidden by ski masks, escaped from the house by smashing out a rear window, police said. One man suffered severe cuts and was captured about a block from the apartment, according to police.

The other two men got into a 1989 Mitsubishi car and fled. Police believe there may have been an accomplice waiting for them in the car.

Police cruisers chased the fleeing car for several miles. Canine units, mounted patrols and a helicopter assisted. "They went up one street, down the other, through alleyways, that sort of thing," said Agent Doug Price, a city police spokesman.

At 31st and Lovegrove streets, in Charles Village, police managed to pull the car over, and the occupants jumped out. One was arrested, and the others escaped after a brief foot chase, police said.

Police recovered two loaded, .38-caliber handguns from the car. One of the guns had recently been fired, police said. Also found in the car was jewelry taken from the victims, as well as marijuana and prescription drugs, police said.

Two suspects were being booked at the Central District last night. Police said that they expect to charge them with armed robbery, handgun violations and other offenses.

The victims, who suffered cuts and bruises, told police that their ordeal began when they answered a knock at the door. The gunmen, they said, ran in and forced them to the floor after ordering them to retrieve pillows from the bedroom.

"We don't know what happened here. Was it a drug deal gone bad? Did police interrupt a robbery, or a drug execution?" Agent Price said.